Rabri Devi
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox officeholder
Rabri Devi<ref name="GE2014">http://ceobihar.nic.in/election/GeneralElection2014/PC20/S04-Bihar-20--May-2014%20(%20GEN%20)-3-RABRI%20DEVI.PDF Template:Bare URL PDF</ref><ref name="AE2010">https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3285e19f20beded7d215102b49d5c09a0/uploads/2023/05/2023051796.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref> (Devanagri: राबड़ी देवी,<ref name="GE2014" /><ref name="AE2010" /> Template:IAST3 Template:IPA) is an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of Bihar almost continuously between 1997 to 2005; she is the first and only woman till date to have held the office. She is also served as leader of the house in legislative assembly). She is a member (MLC) of Bihar Legislative Council and currently serves as the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council.
A member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, she is married to Indian politician Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former chief minister of Bihar from 1990–1997.
Early life and education
Rabri was born in 1955<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in Salar Kalan village, located near Mirganj in the Gopalganj district of Bihar. However, she has stated in affidavits submitted for elections that her birth year is as early as 1953.<ref name="GE2014" /><ref name="AE2010" /> Her parents are Sib Prasad Chaudhary<ref name="sify">Template:Cite news</ref> and Maharjia Devi. She is named after an Indian sweet as per a custom in her family. Her 3 sisters are similarly named Jalebi, Rasgulla and Paan.<ref name="gulfnews">Template:Cite news</ref>
She has studied only up to the fifth standard at a local school in her village. Her parents were hesitant to send their daughters to schools located far away. As a result, none of her sisters got any formal education.<ref name="rediff">Template:Cite web</ref> Prabhunath Yadav, Subhash Prasad Yadav and Sadhu Yadav are her three brothers.
Political career
Devi became the first female Chief Minister of Bihar on 25 July 1997, after her husband, incumbent chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, was forced to resign following the arrest warrant issued against him in corruption charges relating to the Fodder scam. Her appointment as the chief minister of Bihar is considered one of the most unexpected decisions<ref name="proxy" /> in Indian political history, as she was a traditional housewife and had no prior interest in politics.<ref name="kitchen" /> She came under severe criticism and mockery, due to her illiteracy and inexperience.<ref name="rediff" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
She went on to rule the state until 2005. She was also the last chief minister of undivided Bihar.<ref name="kitchen">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="proxy">Template:Cite news</ref>
Devi was elected thrice to the Bihar Vidhan Sabha from the Raghopur seat. In the 2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, Devi contested from two seats: Raghopur and Sonpur, but lost both in an election where the Rashtriya Janata Dal faced defeat, winning only 22 seats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
She contested from Saran in 2014 Lok Sabha election but lost to Rajiv Pratap Rudy of BJP.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Devi was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Personal life and family
Template:See alsoRabri Devi married Lalu Prasad on 1 June 1973 at the age of 18 years,<ref name="sify" /><ref name="rediff" /> in a arranged marriage. Together, they have seven daughters and two sons.<ref name="oneindia">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="sify" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During her wedding, Lalu went on to demand an additional ₹5,000 as dowry from her father, which was eventually fulfilled.<ref name="rediff" />
Positions held
Rabri Devi has been elected 3 times as MLA and 4 times as MLC.
| # | From | To | Position | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1997 | 2000 |
|
RJD |
| 2. | 2000 | 2005 |
|
RJD |
| 3. | Feb 2005 | Oct 2005 | RJD | |
| 4. | 2005 | 2010 |
|
RJD |
| 5. | 2012 | 2018 |
|
RJD |
| 6. | 2018 | 2024 |
|
RJD |
| 7. | 2024 | Present |
|
RJD |
References
External links
Template:S-start Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:S-end Template:Chief Ministers of Bihar Template:Authority control
- Living people
- Chief ministers of Bihar
- Rashtriya Janata Dal politicians
- Finance ministers of Bihar
- Women chief ministers of Indian states
- United Progressive Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election
- Leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly
- Women members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
- Yadav family (Bihar)
- 20th-century Indian women politicians
- 20th-century Indian politicians
- 21st-century Indian women politicians
- Members of the Bihar Legislative Council
- Bihar MLAs 2000–2005
- 1956 births
- Bihar MLAs 2005–2010
- Leaders of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council